Beckett leaves game with apparent back issue

BOSTON -- On a day the Red Sox decided against trading Josh Beckett, the right-hander departed his start against the Tigers in the third inning with an apparent back injury.

Tim Britton

BOSTON -- On a day the Red Sox decided against trading Josh Beckett, the right-hander departed his start against the Tigers in the third inning with an apparent back injury.

On a rainy night at Fenway, Beckett had retired the first eight Detroit hitters before Omar Infante reached on an infield single. Beckett then hit Austin Jackson and walked Quintin Berry and Miguel Cabrera to force in a run. After his 3-1 fastball to Cabrera was low, Beckett summoned the training staff to the mound.

Following a short consultation, he exited the mound to boos. Clayton Mortensen replaced him.

Beckett suffered a back injury while pitching on a slick mound at Yankee Stadium back in 2010. He ended up missing more than two months with that injury.